Bicyclist, pedestrians among 6 injured in suspected New York road rage crash

Police gather at the scene of an accident near Broadway and Liberty Street in New York on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017. Police say six people were hurt in the accident involving three vehicles just blocks from the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan)

By
Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

NEW YORK CITY
—

Six people were taken to hospitals in New York City on Thursday afternoon after a driver struck a pair of vehicles, a cyclist and three pedestrians in what police are characterizing as a suspected road rage incident.

The incident started around 1:20 p.m. when a Lincoln Continental hit the back of a Ford Explorer near the intersection of Liberty Street and Broadway, according to police. The Lincoln continued eastbound and struck the rear-end of a Mercedes SUV before coming to a stop.

Six people were injured in the crash, including the drivers of the Ford and the Mercedes. NYPD Deputy Inspector Mark Ioc said two pedestrians were hit near the intersection of Liberty Street and Broadway while a third was hit near the area where the Lincoln stopped. A bicyclist was also injured.

Ioc said the injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.

“Right now we are investigating this as a road rage incident,” he said at a news conference Thursday afternoon. He added that the incident did not appear to be intentional.

Police continue to investigate the cause of the suspected road rage.

Ioc said the Lincoln’s driver “did not seem to be in any medical distress” when officers found him and the heavily damaged car. The driver was taken into custody for questioning, WNBC reported.

The crash happened less than a mile from the path where a driver plowed into bicyclists and pedestrians in October, killing eight people and injuring 12 others. Police identified the driver as Sayfullo Saipov, 29, and deemed that attack an act of terror. Saipov has pleaded not guilty to multiple murder charges and providing material support to ISIS.